Coal sizing apparatus



P 1941- P. DANE ETAL COAL SIZING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 30, 1939 Inventors PRESTON DANE I'L/JAH h. M-(z/LLocH w Y m E A L Sept. 16, 1941.

P. DANE ET AL COAL SIZING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1939 Inventors .H a .n E m L t mm m (E m m N M5 wfiu 5 H M M fi P/IM r 2 Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE":

COAL SIZING APPARATUS Preston Dane, Poteau, Okla", Elijah H. McCulloch, Fort Smith, Ark., and Samuel Smedley, Poteau,

Application November 30, 1939, Serial No. 306,932

3 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in separators for sizing coal, and similar commodities.

The invention is designed with the particular I the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a preferred embodiment of our improved separator,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation, Figure 5 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a. detail fragmentary view in longitudinal section of a modification of the invention. Referring to the drawings by numerals, the illustrated embodiment of my separator preferably comprises as its basic element an elongated trough-like frame I including a pair of upper vertical side walls 2' of any desired height and mateial, a pair of side rails 3 below the side walls 2 spaced a distance from the same suitably for a purpose presently seen and disposed directly below said walls, and upright and oblique angle iron bars 4, 5, arranged in any suitable manner to connect the walls 2 and bars 3 in spaced relation. The rails 3 have suitably secured to the inner sides thereof and extending along the same, for a suitable distance a pair of angle iron conveyor supporting track bars 6. A pair of upper bars 1, also of angle iron, and for a similar purpose are suitably secured to the inner faces of the side walls 2 adjacent the lower edges thereof to extend along the same.

A pair of transverse conveyor driving shafts B are provided at opposite ends of the described frame I, respectively,'with their opposite ends journalled in suitable bearings, not shown, said shafts being located intermediate the bars 6 and 1. Fast on each shaft 8 is a pair of sprocket wheels 9 at opposite sides of the frame I, respectively, and between the side walls 2. A pair of endless conveyor side chains III are trained around the sprocket wheels 9 with their upper runs extending above the bars I and their lower runs supported by the bars 6, respectively. The ends of the shafts 8 extend beyond the frame 1 and are equippedwith sprocket wheels ll fast thereon for connection of the shafts by sprocket chains, not shown, if desired and should occasion require.

The lower bars I support thereon a flat metal bed plate 12 extending to within a suitable distance of the sprocket wheels 9. and over which the upper runs of the conveyor chains to drag. Angle iron feed bars l3, of the pusher type, are suitably secured at the'ends thereof to the conveyor chains l0, respectively, to extend across the bed plate l2 and drag over the same, said bars being disposed with channel sides facing downward and with the other sides thereof converging upwardly from the bed plate 12.

Adjacent one end of the described frame I is a frame-like superstructure I4 arising therefrom and including an elevated platform 15 designed to support a motor l6. Intermediate the superstructure and the adjacent conveyor driving shaft 8 is a jack shaft ll journalled at its ends in a pair of bearings I8 suitably mounted in said frame I in the spaces between the side walls 2 and the rails 3, said shaft l1 extending across the frame and having a large pulley l9 and a small sprocket wheel 20 fast on its opposite ends, respectively. The motor l6 drives the pulley wheel l9 through the medium of a smaller pulley wheel 2| fast on the armature shaft 22 of the motor, and a belt 23 from said wheel 2| to the pulley wheel IS. The jack shaft l'l drives the adjacent conveyor driving shaft 8 through the medium of the small sprocket wheel 20, a sprocket chain 24 and a large sprocket wheel 25 on said shaft 8.

Incorporated in the bed plate I2 is a series of sizing grates spaced apart longitudinally of the same at any desired distance and formed by gaps 26 provided in, said plate and laterally spaced parallel grate bars 21 bridging said gaps and extending lengthwise of the bed plate. The bars 2lfare spaced apart different distances in different grates for the passage of different sizes of oal therebetween. Preferably the grate with the widest spaced bars 21 is located adjacent the disif mixed coal is fed along said plate 20 toward the discharge end of the frame I successively,

larger sizes of coal will be separated successively therefrom by dropping through succeeding grates, the largest sijzebeing separated'last at the discharge endof the frame I.

Beneath each of the described grates, with the exception of the one at the discharge end ofthe frame I, is a gravity feed chute 28 extending to one side of the frame I, said chutes being preferably rectangular in cross section and formed as an integral part of the bed plate'l2. The grate at the discharge end of the frame I is pro vided with a chute 29 similar to chutes 28 but having a pair of' discharge spouts 30 extending from opposite sides thereof for a purpose presently seen. i

, The'bars 28 of the .described grates are preferably set into the chutes 28, 29, flush with the top of the bed plate !2 so that the coal will be dragged, or fed, over the same'by .the feed or pusher bars I3. A feature of the invention is that the bars 21. are suitably mounted in the top of the chutes 28, 29, for variable spacing apartas desired to vary. the sizing operations as occasion may require.

As best shown in Figure 2, at the far side 01 each gap 26, or chute 28, 29, a ledge 3| is provided which inclines upwardly out of the chute, or gap,to'the bed plate I2, the function of which is to elevate lumps of coal out of the chute, or gap, under the feed of the bars Ill, and which as disclosed, and right is herein reserved to such other modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What we claim is: I 1. In a coal separating and sizing machine, an elongated trough-like frame including sides and a bed plate, adapted for the feeding of the coal along the same, means for feeding the coal along said plate comprising a pair of endless conveyor chains having upper runs slidable over said plate "lengthwise thereof and adjacent opposite sides of the same, respectively, cross bars extending between said chains to be dragged thereby over the plate, and thereby feed the coal along the same, and a series of grates in said plate spaced apart longitudinally thereof'and each including may have sagged between the bars 21' but are too large to fall therethrough.

Angle iron bars 32 suitably secured to the inner faces of the'walls 2 to overlie the top runs of the conveyor chains l0 prevent saidruns from buckling upwardly as they drag over the gaps 280i the described grates.

Adjacent the discharge end of the frame I is a suitable extension frame 32' for attachment to said frame I of a boom, not shown, for loading the discharge from the conveyor into mine cars or the like.

In the modification shown in Figure 6, the bed plate 33'supports in advance .of each grate 34 a rearwardly and upwardly inclined plate 35 forming a rise on the plate and a drop onto the grate 34 causing the coal to tumble and roll and thus mixing the same before it'is passed over the grate ,34.

The operation of the described separator, and sizer will be readily understood.- The coal is loaded into the frame I, at the appropriate end grate bars disposed flush with said plate and extending lengthwise thereof, the bars of said grates being spaced different distances apart in different grates, said cross bars being of an- ,gle iron form and disposed between said upper runs with the sides thereof converging upwardly whereby said bars function to lift the coal during the feeding operation and thereby mix the same.

2. In a coal separating and sizing machine, an elongated trough-like frame including sides and a bed plate adapted for the feeding of the coal along the same, means for feeding the coal along said plate comprising a pair of endless conveyor chainshaving upper runs slidable over said plate lengthwise thereof and adjacent opposite sides of the same, respectively, cross bars extending between said chains to be dragged thereby over the plate and thereby feed the coal along the same, a series of grates in said plate spaced apart'longitudinally thereof and each including grate bars disposed flush with said plate and extending lengthwise thereof, the bars of said grates being spaced different distances apart in different grates, and a plurality of discharge chutes secured to said frame to underlie said grates respectively, said chute extending transversely of said plate, and elevating plates for thereof; to be dragged, or fed, along the bed plate l2 toward the discharge end of the frame under operation of the conveyor chains to "and feed, or pusher, bars [3, the motor l6 operating said chains in a manner which will be apparent. As the coal is fed toward the discharge end of the frame I the smaller sizes of lumps fall through the gaps 28 bridged by the closest spaced bars which, as we have seen, are located adjacent the loading end of the frame. The lumps .of successively larger sizes are similarly sized by falling through the succeeding gaps 26. The two largest sizes fall through the last gap at the discharge end of the frame I and discharge out of the two spouts 30 of different sizes, said spouts being properly dimensioned for that purpose. The other sizes discharge out of the chutes 28, as will be clear.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suiilce to impart a clear understanding ofour invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the-invention, as described, is susceptible of modification in other respects than said chutes, respectively, inclining upwardly out of the same to the far side thereof for lifting coal back onto said plate sagging partway throughthe space between said cross bars.

3. In a coal separating and sizing machine, an elongated trough-like frame including sides and a bed plate, adapted for the feeding of the coal along the same, means for feeding the coal along said plate comprising a pair of endless conveyor chains having upper run's slidable over said plate lengthwise thereof and adjacent opposite sides of the same, respectively, cross bars extending between said chains to be dragged,

thereby over the plate, and thereby feed the coal along the same, and a series of grates in said plate spaced apart longitudinally thereof and each including grate bars disposed flush with 

